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Monday, 29 August 2016

It would seem that lack of sleep can sometimes increase your productivity - this is the second card of the day! I also need to thank the "Less is More" team for inspiring me, yet again, with an interesting challenge. I promise that this will be the last as I have now exhausted all my ideas!!

Once again alcohol inks and peel offs are involved but this time with the addition of acetate. Firstly I smooshed cranberry and raspberry inks for the baubles and then lettuce and bottle for the background. I cut an aperture in the card. Added the peel offs to the acetate and them fussy cut the baubles, added some silver thread and adhered them to the back of the aperture. I cut a piece of the, now, green acetate to fit the aperture and adhered it behind. Added the sentiment and that, as they say, is that!!This will be my third entry in the challenge at "Less is More" where the recipe for the week is to "... Use sticker, sticky label or peel-off.All that is left to do now is to hide the peel-offs back in the deep recesses of my cupboard!Enjoy!

When sleep alludes you what do you do? It's a holiday weekend in the UK so I should have been enjoying a lie in but my brain had other ideas and just would not go back to sleep ... so here I am having made a card already!!Another card using my ancient stash of peel off stickers!

I haven't used the stickers in a novel or different way, I've just used them as stickers. I coloured some shiny card using alcohol inks then applied the peel offs - both the positive and negative flowers. I then fussy cut the flowers - the stems were created from the waste around the peel off sheet sliced thinly with my guillotine. The most time consuming element of the card was sticking the negative elements in place.Thanks to the designers at "Less is More" for setting this weeks challenge - it has made me use a few peel offs from my (large) stash! Who knows whether I'll be back later with another card ...Enjoy!

Sunday, 28 August 2016

I've been trying out a new technique with brusho that Kim Dellow (Kim used PaperArtsy Infusions) explained in a you tube video - I'm not sure that I've mastered the technique but I like the effect that it creates. It involves printing the image using versamark ink then sprinkle with brusho before spritzing with water - for a clearer explanation I recommend you watch Kim's video here.I used this technique to create the butterflies in this card:

I used the following:VersamarkBrushos - Ultramaring, Turquoise and LemonCUTplorations Rectangle Die and Awesome word dieSTAMPlorations Trendy Butterflies Stamp Set.I'm entering the new challenge at AAA Cards:Enjoy!

It's an interesting challenge this week at "Less is More" - the challenge is to use "... a sticker, sticky label or peel off" on your card. I have lots of peel offs I used to be obsessed with buying them but apart from sentiment ones I've never really worked out what to do with them! So with the challenge set I decided to have a go - at first I was just going to make a card and use a peel off for the sentiment but that would have been the easy way out. This is what I did instead:

A simple card - it almost feels like I cheated! I masked a circle and then ink blended it with distress inks. Added the peel offs and the sentiment and that was it.Enjoy!

Saturday, 27 August 2016

This card looks so much better in real life - the red is far redder than this photograph suggests!I used:STAMPlorations Blooming BudsCUTplorations Double stitched rectangle dieDisress Inks - Festive Berries, Crushed Olive and Antique LinenVersafine Onyx Black InkWashi tape - origin long since forgotten!!I'm entering the following challenges:Djkardkreations NBUS challenge - I've been looking forward to Darnell's latest challenge and am delighted to join in. If you don't know Darnell it really is worth popping along and visiting her blog you really will not be disappointed - as well as a wonderful card maker her blog post are eloquent and fun. The challenge is to use stuff you haven't used before - in my case the stamp set and the washi tape have only previously been admired!

Thursday, 25 August 2016

Today I put my new skill of procrastination to one side and decided to try out a couple of new techniques I've seen on You Tube. The first technique is loose water colouring an image first stamped using a light distress inks and when the image is dry stamping the image again using black ink. The technique was demonstrated by Carolyn Peeler for the Ellen Hutson's classroom - the image she created is amazing, although not as good I am quite pleased with my first attempt!

I used:STAMPlorations - The Birds and the BloomsVersafine Onyx BlackDistress Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin and Crushed OliveSizzix Tim Holtz Mixed Media DiesI am entering the following challenges:CAS Colours and Sketches #188 - it's simply ages since I entered this challenge but the sketch inspired me to have a go.

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

I took a break from gardening this afternoon ... it was just too hot! I managed to create one card ... the rest of the time I was merely procrastinating (a skill that I have mastered!!).

I used:UNIKO Paradise: Hummingbird Stamp setDistress Inks - Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch, Picked RaspberryI inked the hummingbird with three shades of distress ink which I spritzed with water - an attempt to created a blended water colour feel. The flowers were inked and stamped in the same way but with the stem of the first one masked to allow for multiple stamping. I fussy cut the hummingbird so that I could pop it up to add some dimension.I'm entering this weeks challenge at "Less is More" - the theme is Exotic.Enjoy!

Friday, 19 August 2016

We've had rain today ... so I just had to spend the day crafting!! This is one of the cards that I completed.

I created the floral border by stamping the flowers in distress inks and then heat embossing with clear embossing powder, masking each one in between stamping. I then masked the flowers and used a script stamp to add background colour. The panel has been adhered to a piece of cream hessian using dimensional adhesive before adding it to the card base and adding a simple sentiment.I used:STAMPlorations - Floral Bliss and Mixed Media ElementsClear Embossing PowderDistress Inks - Festive Berries, Candied Apple, Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Carved Pumpkin and Peeled PaintI am entering the following challenges:Penny Black and More - August Challenge, Anything Goes with a stampStamping Sensations - August Challenge, Anything GoesSTAMPloratons

Thursday, 18 August 2016

Back to blogging ... I've been busy with family commitments over the last couple of weeks so time for crafting has taken a back seat. Today I decided to make time to be creative ...

A simple one layer card inspired by this week's challenge at "Less is More" the theme is "Something French" - the only thing I could manage was the sentiment.I used:STAMPlorations Born to Roam stamp setLawn Fawn Milo's ABCVersafine Onyx Black InkZIG Clean Color Real Brush MarkersI am entering the following challenges:"Less is More" #289 One layer week - Something FrenchSTAMPlorations

I used:Hobby Art Ltd - PeoniesDistress Inks - Tumbled Glass and Picked RaspberryDienamics - Stitched RectanglesSizzix Tim Holtz Mixed Media DiesI am entering the following challenges:AAA Cards #70SimonSaysStamp Wednesday Challenge: Fabulous FloralsBefore I sign off I need to say a huge thank you to the design team over at "Less is More" - they have chosen to include one of my cards in this weeks Showcase. I'm honoured to have been chosen- thanks. This is the card they liked:

Thursday, 4 August 2016

Wow, doesn't time fly especially when you're trying to cram loads in! Well it has been a week since I last managed to create a post ... I don't know where the time goes! Less chat more action ...

I created the background by inking one of my acrylic blocks with distress inks which I then spritzed with water that had perfect pearls in it. I pressed the block onto a piece of watercolour card leaving it for a few seconds before lifting it off - I love the blended effect this gives. I then used a stencil and embossing paste to create the dandelion clock, die cut the panel and a panel of black card. The black card was adhered to the card base and I added fun foam to the back of the watercolour panel before adhering it to the card.I used:CUTplorations Rectangle diesSweet Poppy Brass Dandelion StencilDistress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint SketchPerfect PearlsDreamweaver Matte Black Embossing PasteI'm entering the following challenges:"Less is More" #286 & 287 Use something Tactile - hopefully the raised embossing paste meets the criteria.AAA Cards #70Enjoy!

About Me

My name is Elaine and I am a part time crafter - unfortunately I cannot afford to be a full time crafter! I create with textiles, enjoy knitting, sewing, cross stitch and embroidery. I also enjoy paper crafts and try to make all my own cards.